I've read a lot of negative advise to new riders here. Also, I hear a lot of them from my friends and co-workers. One funny example is this friend of mine. He used to ride and he had an '03 R6. I'd always go to him if I have questions about riding. But everytime he would ask me if I had dropped my bike yet, or crashed it, or close to dropping it. As if he wants me to have an accident or something. If you're giving an advise to a new rider, please say something encouraging. You are not in a position to judge anybody about their riding skills because you don't know them. If you had crashed when you're just learning how to ride, maybe share something that would prevent the "new rider" from crashing. You're taking out the "riding is awesome!" aspect of the entire experience.

For the new rider. The only person that could tell you what you can and cannot do is yourself. Some new riders are naturally talented and some are not. Some are smart, and some are confused. Some are sure of themselves and some are foolish. And some just got "bigger balls" than others. Take the MSF course, ask advise from experienced riders and always think about "SAFETY FIRST!"

In your example, it's not that your friend 'wants' you to have a wreck. The fact is that your mindset will change with a minor tip-over/get-off. Some people wonder if you've had the experience yet. It helps judge where your confidence or overconfidence level may be.

Yes, everyone is different but there are similarities and trends. The longer you ride, the easier they are to spot. This is one reason some of us will tell newbies that they don't know how much they don't know.

Then, one day, you are looking back and realize you didn't know a lot and others really were just trying to help.

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have. Thomas Jefferson

I go Beltway blitzin' on my mad mofo musclebike WFO. Its a true choice, a god-like experience if you will. The thought that I could buy the farm in a spectacular fireball...................well, that gives me a stiffie! Tesco Vee/The Meatmen

I'm going to second Old School Punk on some of this. We don't want anyone to get hurt, but the occasional near miss is a good reminder of our limits and teaches us the humility required to safely operate a motorcycle.

This summer, I was going pretty fast down a road in upstate New York. I headed over a hill, (apparently a stop sign warning was blocked), and as I got over it, I saw that the road ended, there was a river below, and a stop sign. Oh, and a bit of gravel in the road I'd need to break on.

I slam on the brakes. Relatively new bike for me; I go into a rear skid. Get the back wheel lined back up with the front, release, and keep leaning on the brakes. Stop three feet before the intersection.

Statistically, motorcycles are more dangerous than most other high-risk activities. Hang gliding, technical diving, kitesurfing, even racing on a track are statistically safer than riding on the street. The only thing out there that's more dangerous than motorcycles is BASE jumping. And those guys are crazy.

I've read a lot of negative advise to new riders here. Also, I hear a lot of them from my friends and co-workers. One funny example is this friend of mine. He used to ride and he had an '03 R6. I'd always go to him if I have questions about riding. But everytime he would ask me if I had dropped my bike yet, or crashed it, or close to dropping it. As if he wants me to have an accident or something. If you're giving an advise to a new rider, please say something encouraging. You are not in a position to judge anybody about their riding skills because you don't know them. If you had crashed when you're just learning how to ride, maybe share something that would prevent the "new rider" from crashing. You're taking out the "riding is awesome!" aspect of the entire experience.

For the new rider. The only person that could tell you what you can and cannot do is yourself. Some new riders are naturally talented and some are not. Some are smart, and some are confused. Some are sure of themselves and some are foolish. And some just got "bigger balls" than others. Take the MSF course, ask advise from experienced riders and always think about "SAFETY FIRST!"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

So you're judging the posters here because of their judgemental posts.

You go to buy a car... if you have the credit or the $$ at 16 with a drivers license you can purchase a Viper with twin turbo and any other mods you can think of. I am not saying it is a good idea but it is allowed. Same with bikes .... it may be better to start on a 250 but it is not required and it also does not mean the person that starts on a 600 has no chance. In fact it is not even best to start with a 250 if you want to be real about it. You should start with a dirtbike ... PW50 or whatever then move up slow then to a dual sport to start on the street.

Again I am not saying everyone that wants to start riding start on a 600 or 1k I am just saying that not many people do it the "best" way.

But every time this friend of mine ask me if I'd crashed yet, it gets to the point where I would tell him "I'm working on it" hoping that maybe that would shut him up. He insists that it will happen soon. I really don't have any time thinking about crashing on my bike right now because I'm still trying to learn how to corner properly. Maybe in the future when I get bored, I'll focus on how to crash and get some useful tips here.

But every time this friend of mine ask me if I'd crashed yet, it gets to the point where I would tell him "I'm working on it" hoping that maybe that would shut him up. He insists that it will happen soon. I really don't have any time thinking about crashing on my bike right now because I'm still trying to learn how to corner properly. Maybe in the future when I get bored, I'll focus on how to crash and get some useful tips here.

So prove him wrong. Get some riding experience in. Learn how to take curves, how to deal with traffic, etc. etc. After a good three thousand miles, I think he'll change a bit.

But every time this friend of mine ask me if I'd crashed yet, it gets to the point where I would tell him "I'm working on it" hoping that maybe that would shut him up. He insists that it will happen soon. I really don't have any time thinking about crashing on my bike right now because I'm still trying to learn how to corner properly. Maybe in the future when I get bored, I'll focus on how to crash and get some useful tips here.

If you put 125/80 road race slicks on your bike, the wider rubber acts like frame sliders and holds the plastics off the ground when you crash. That's how the MotoGP guys do it.

If you want good advice then here ya go. Take classes. MSF advanced and sportbike classes are good. Find a good trackday organization that has class time. These things will help you learn to corner better in a safe way. Remember where you are at all the time..... if your on the street ride slower and safer... if your on the track ride faster and safer. The things you can learn from trackdays are great if you get in a bind and could save your arse but you should not ride the street like it is the track.

Get the twist of the wrist books and video. Those will help you alot before you ever go to the track or whatever.

Remember that your rear tire will not break traction easy so if you rev the engine and pop the clutch you will end up with your bike riding you.

Always pretrip your bike.

Wear your gear (because there is a very high (almost absolute) chance that at some point you will crash .... problem is you will not know in time to throw on gear)

Cars are bigger and they will win in a fight.

The front tire does the majority of the braking .... and all of the braking in an emergency (because the rear will be off the ground).